Fabric guide



June 18,1929. w. F. IRRGANG 1,717,345

' FABRIC GUIDE Filed March 21, 1927 3 sheets-sheet 1 June 18, 1929. w.F. IRRGANG 1.717.845

FABRIC GUIDE Y Filed March 21. 192'/ :s shetsfsheex 2 v lo 77 //6 85 Fl.IJ INVENToR.

.lune 18, 1929. w. F. IRRGANG ,1.717.845

FABRIC GUIDE Filed March 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .'Fig I 5 I N V ENTOR.

TORNEY.

Patented June i8, 1929.

Uhlllll iS'lATiES PATENT WILLIAM i". IRRGANG, or Unicorns,MASSACHUSETTS, Assienon To THE riss. :RUB- BEE COMPANY, or ciircorEEFALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, .a conronii'rion or Massn- CHUSETTS.

FABRIC GUDE.

Application filed March 21, 1927.

This invention relates to a device for guiding to a tire buildingmachine a band of fabric which is later treated so as to incorporate itin a tire casing. The invention has particular reference to such tirebuilding machines as are used tobuild up tire casings 'in the flat,although it is adapted as well for core-built tires. The object of theinvention is to produce a guide which will accurately position upon thetire building forni successive plies of fabric of different widths. ltis customary in the building of tire casings to supply fabric tosuccessive plies, of widths differing so as to produce a variation inthe amount which the plies are turned up around the beadbf the casing.By my invention the adjustmentcf the fabric guide to position thesuccessive plies is done at least partially by automatr callyr operatingdevices.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention and alsoa turret fabric supply for furnishing one ply strips of fabric to themachine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail showing the vertical adjustment of thefabric guide;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of parts shown in Fig. l but on a largerscale;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the parts shown in Fig. S3 in a differentoperative position;

Figs. 5 to l0 inclusive are developed plans of certain cani mechanismsin position respectively for the lirst ply, second ply, aniiiterinediate step, the third ply, the fourth ply, and the first ply ofthe next succeeding tire;

Fig. l1 is a section on line ll-li of Fig. l5

g l2 is 1',

13, is a section online 13-13 of a section on line 12-12 of 'fornishowing a tire casing partially uilt up thereon;

Fig. l5 is a top plan view of the fabric guide shown in Fig. 3; and n lFigs. 1G, 17, and 18 are, respectively, similar views showing the samepart-s arranged for the second, third, and fourth plies of fabric.

Referring first to Fig. l, the drum Serial No.' 177,192.

upon which the tire is built is supported upon a driven shaft 21mounted. in a pedestal 22. The drum is divided into sections 23, 24, and25. Upon the driven shaft 21 is secured a spider 2G to which the section23 is attached. Section 24 is carried by the spider 2G through a` hinge27. Pivoted loosely about the shaft 2l is a crank 29 having an arm 3()connected by a link 31 to section 25. Cooperating stops 32 and 38 causethe sections 24 and 25 to interlock and stops 34 and 35 preventover-traveling of the arm 30, By rotating crank 29 the section may bedrawn in to collapse the drum and thereby permit the removal of a tiretherefrom. A flexible band brake 36 encircles a brake drum upon shaft21, the brake band being secured at one end to the pedestal 22 as at 87and at the other end to a rod 38. The lower end of this iod is joined toa treadle 39 pivoted at 40 to the frame of the machine. By pressing thetreadle 39, the drum can be brought to rest in a manner common todevices of this character. The treadle 4l controls the driving means forrotating the tire building drum, the mechanism by which driving power isfurnished not being shown as it is not essential for the understandingof my invention and is well known in the art.

Spaced from the pedestal 22 is a second pedestal 42 having rotatablymounted thereon a turret Carried by this turret in a hollowed outport-ion of pedestal 42 is a cani 44 having' a cti-acting cani roll 45mounted upon a lever treadle 46 pivoted at 47 to the frame. A spring 48normally keeps the treadle in the position shown in Fig. l, but when itis depressed at its outer end the cam roll is raised into contact withthe cam and causes rotation of the turret. This forni of control isdesirable as it permits the turret to be rotated by the operator withoutthe necessity of his moving from the tire building machine. Upon the'turret are mounted upright supports 49, four as shown, each carryingbrackets 50 upon which are supported pairs of rolls 5l. Each pair ofrolls receives one end of a shaft 54 carrying detachable spools 53. Thespools are arranged in pairs, the lower being the stock supply andtheupper a wind-up spool for the liner, between the turns of which thefabric is wound up. The spools are rotated by the withdrawal of thefabric material S in a manner well known to the art.

The fabric guide which forms the subject of this invention is supportedupon a post mounted firmly upon the pedestal 22. Slidable verticallyupon the post 6() is a sleeve 61 from which a horizontal tube 62projects. This tube liunishes direct support for the fabric guide aswill be described in detail below, Mounted within the post 60 is a blockG3 carried upon the pins 64; which extend through vertical slots G5 inthe post and into holes in the sleeve G1. vertical rod 66 extendsthrough the block and carries at its top a hand wheel (37 by means ofwhich it can be rotated. A collar 68 prevents vertical movement of theshaft. As the hand wheel (37 is turned the sleeve 61 and the tube 62,which is rigidly attached to it, are caused to move vertically. By thismeans the height of the fabric guiding attachment above the axis of thedrum 2() can be regulated to accommodate drums of different size.

The main body of the fabric guide is furnished by the plate 70 uponwhich the fab ric lies. The edges of the fabric are guided by verticalguide members 71 and 72 (Fig. 15)7 these being fitted with bottoms 723slut ing upon the top surface of the plate 7l). The plate is secured asby screws or rivets to a bracket 74thaving a hub 75 encircling the tube62. As shown in Fig. 11 the bracket isrheld longitudinally upon the tube62 by means of a pin 7 G extending through a slot 77 in the hub, andthreaded into a collar 78 received loosely Within the tube. The collar78 is held between two collars 79 pinned to a rod 80 which extendsthrough the tube ('32. At the end of the tube remote from the post 60the rod fitted with a hand wheel 81 (Fig. 13) having a hub portion 82extending into the end of the tube in order to give bearing to the rod80. The hand wheel and the slot 77 prevent longitudinal movement of therod within the tube. As will be described. below, this rod furnishes ameans of adjustment by which the basic spacing between the guides 71 and72 may be regulated.

rThe side guides 71 and 72 are mounted upon brackets 83 (Fig. 12)generally similar to the bracket 74C previously described. Eachbracket83 is provided with a hub 811 encircling the tube 62. A pin 85passes througlra slot 86 in the hub and extends through the tube into Ianut 87 threaded onto a threaded portion 88 of rod 80. The two threadedportions of the rod are respectively right and left handed so that whenthe rod is rotated by means of the hand wheel 81, the brackets 83 willbe moved simultaneously in oppositedirections. In order to accommodatethis the tube G0 is formed with slots 89 through which the pins 85 pass.The operation of the parts thus far described will be clear without muchdiscussion. 1f the hand wheel 81 is rotated, the action of the nut 87will cause the brackets S3 to approa lh each other or to separate, whilethe bracket 74, being retained by a collar 78 rather than by a nut, willremain stationary.

The adjustment described above serves to change the setting of themechanism when it is desired to change the size of the tire being workedupon or when it is desired to change the dimensions of the fabric whichis incorporated in the tire. Besides this adjustment there is asemi-automatic adjustment which sets the side guides at varying widthsfor the accommodation of the successive plies which are built into thetire fabric. 1t is general practice to lay two plies of a four ply tirein place and then apply the bead before thc last two plies are added. 1naccordance with this practice the present machine is arranged so that amanual adjustment takes place between the first two plies while theadjustment between the second and third plies accomplished automaticallyby the travel of the guide to and from its inactive position when theoperator applies the bead. The adjustment between the third and fourthplies is again manual. Qi

The automatic adjustment which sets the side guides for the first andthird plies is controlled by the following mechanism: Upon the tube 62 ashort distance from the hand wheel 81 is a collar 90 (Figsg 13 and 15)having a pin 91 passing through a hole in the tube and threaded into anut 92 (Fig. 15) which is threaded onto rod 80. The direction of thethread upon the rod at this point is the same as its direction at thelocation of the .nut 87 attached to the adjacent bracket 83, so that thetwo nuts always move j .uarallcl and. at the same speed. Between thecollar 90 and the adjacent backet 823 located a cam cylinder 93 which isfree to turn upon the tube (S2. Upon the surface of this cam cylinderare cam strips 9st, 95, 9G, and 97, generally triangular in plan. Adeveloped view of the cylinder and the cam strips is shown in Fig. 5 andthe following figures A pawl 98 runs in a slot 99 in the cam cylinderand is pressed by a spring 10() toward the collar 90. A series of fournotches 101 arranged around the circumfer.

ence of the collar 90 receives the end of the pawl and permit relativemotion of the collar 9() and the cam cylinder in one direction, but notin the other. The purpose of this arrangement will appear more fullybelow. As the hand wheel 81 is rotated the bracket 83 and the collar 90will move together, a lslot 102 in the tube through which the pin 91passes permitting axial movement of colturned flange 114 on the slide.

lar 90. The cam cylinder 93 is carried axially of the tube b'y contactwith the collar and the bracket which abut iton each side.

Mounted in ways 103 in the bracket 83 (Fig. 12) is a slide 104 rivetedas at 105 to the side guide 71. Near one end this slide carries a lug106 upon which is mounted a cam roll 107 (zo-acting as will be describedlater with the several cams 94 to 97 upon the cam cylinder 93. Theco-action of the cam roll with these cam strips furnishes the automaticadjustment which takes place between the second and third plies andbetween the fourth ply of one pocket and the lirst ply of the next. Forthe manual adjustment occurring between the alterna-te plies the slide104 is provided with a slot 108 through which projects a stud 109 uponwhich is mounted a hand operated lever 110. This lever carries at oneend a cam 111 coacting at one side with a cam plate 112 secured on oneside of the guide 71 Iand at the other with a cam 113 co-acting with anup- By rocking the lever in one direction or the other a slight movementof the slide may be given, the amount ofthis motion depending upon theshape of the cam surfaces.

In order to cause the two side guides 71 and 72 to move simultaneouslyand in opposite directions, the following mechanism is provided. Apinion 115 is pivoted to the bottom of bracket 74 and is covered with ahousing plate 116. Under this plate are also mounted rolls 117 whichfurnish bearings for rack bars 118 and 119 which conneet with the pinionon opposite sides there of. At the outer end of each of these rack barsare formed ears 120 through which pass pins 121 connecting with theslide 104 at one end through a slotl 122 and with a similar slide 123 onthe other bracket 83 through a slot 124.

The apparatus has been shown in Figs. 5 and 15 in readiness for theapplication of the first ply of fabric. After this ply has been ledthrough the guide onto the tire building drum the lever 110 is swung tothe right as indicated in Fig. 16. The cam cyl inder is at this timebeing held by the pawl 98 in such a position that the cam roll 107 willpass between the cam strips 94 and 95 as indicated in Fig. 6. The motiongiven to slide 104 by this action of the lever serves, through theconnecting mechanism just described, to move side guide 72 as well asguide 71 although in the opposite direction. It will appear from Fig. 14that the first ply 125 is slightly wider than the second ply 126 and themotion given to the side guides b y the lever 110 exactly compensatesfor this difference so that each ply is guided accurately into positionupon the tire casing.

After the second ply has been laid the bead anchorages 127 are to beapplied. Since the fabric guide would be in the way of the operatorduring this operation it is swung vertically upon tube 62 as a pivot,slots 77 and 86 permitting this and also serving to limit the amount ofmotion. The guiding apparatus is shown in Fig. 4 in its inoperativeposition. The position of the cam cylinder 93 in this motion is shown inFig. 7. It will be 'seen that the cam roll 107 which at this time isdirectly underneath the cam strip 94 causes the cam cylinder to moverelative to the collar 90. Since the collar is pinned at 91 to the tubeit remains stationary while the cam cylinder is carried by the rollthrough an larc of revolution equal to that shown by the difference'between Figs. 3 and 4.

After the bead has been applied, the operator must apply the thirdfabric ply to the carcass. In readiness for doing this, the fabricguiding mechanism is swung from the inactive position of Fig. 4 to theoperative position of Fig. 3 causing the motion of the cam partsindicated by a comparison of Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. During the first part ofthe downward movement the cam roll 107 strikes against the slantingsurface of cam strip 95. This imparts a slight rotation to the canicylinder 93, the motion continuing until the pawl 98 has dropped intothe next adjacent notch 101. The cam cylinder now being held stationaryby its conn nection with the stationary collar 90, further movement ofthe bracket 83 causes the cam roll to ride along the slanting surface ofthe cam strip 95, nally ending in the position shown in Fig. 8. At thispoint the two fabric guides 71 and 72 are in the position in which theymost nearly approach each other. rlhis is necessary since the third ply128, as indicated in Fig. 14, is narrower than any of the others. Y

During the approach of the side guides in positioning themselves for theapplication of the third ply, the flange 114 has struck the cam portion113, as indicated in Fig. 17, and has rocked the lever 110 from theposition of Fig. 16 to that of Fig. 17. When the operator has completedthe laying of the third ply and desires to apply the fourth ply 129,which as indicated in Fig. 14 is of slightly greater width, he pressesthe lever 110 again toward the right, this time causing the cam 13 tostrike abutment 14 and shift the slide 104 toward the left. Thisoperation is indicated in Fig. 18.

Vith the parts in the position of Figs. 9 and 18, a' further up and downmotion of the fabric supply causes an action similaito that described inthe transition between Fig. 6 and Fig. 8, except that that is madebetween cam strips 96 and 97 instead of between those numbered 94 and95, the two pairs being exact duplicates. The entire circumference ofthe cam cylinder 93 thus furnishes suiicient cam surface for theproduction of two complete tires.

Having thus described my invention, VI claim:

l. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising side guides,camjmeans constrained for operation in predetermined sequence toposition the guides successively at different spacings, and means toactuate the cam means.

2. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising opposed sideguides' movable into and out of an active position adjacent a tirebuilding form, and means automatically actuated during the transitionthrough the inactive position for varying the spacing of the Vsideguides one from the other.

A fabric guide fortire building` apparatus comprising opposed sideguides movable into and out of an active position adjacent a tirebuilding form, means automatically operated during the transitionthrough the inactive position for varying the spacing of the side guidesone from the other` and manually operable means for varying said spacingwhile the guide remains in operative position.

et. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising opposed sideguides, means for adjusting the spacing of the side guides for variousbase widths of fabric, and means for superimposing upon the baseadjustment a definite sequence of adjustments of predeterminedmagnitude.

5. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising a pair of sideguides, supports for the guides, an adjustment for varying theseparation of the supports, and means for simultaneously moving the twoguides relative to each other and to the supports.

G. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising a horizontalbearing member, fabric guiding means having upstanding edge guidingportions and swinging upon the bearing member, and cam mechanism carriedin part by the bearing member and in part by the guiding means to varythe separation of the edge guiding portions during the swinging oftheguiding means.

7. A fabric guide for tire building'apparatus comprising a horizontalbearing member, a plate fixed axially thereon but free to move through alimited arc of revolution, a pair of brackets axially adjustable alongthe bearing member and free to move through a limited arc of revolution,one on either side of the plate,.a cam cylinder axially movable alongthe bearingmember with one of said brackets, ratchet means coupling thecylinder with the bracket for rotative movement in one direction, camplates spaced around the cam cylinder, side guides carried by the twobrackets, mechanism coupling the side guides for simultaneous motionaxially of the bearing member, and a cam roll secured to one of the sideguides and co-acting with the plates on the cam Cylinder, whereby thespacing of the side guides will be changed upon oscillation of thebrackets around the guiding member.

8. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising a horizontalbearing member, a plate fixed axially thereon but free to move through alimited arc of revolution, a pair of brackets axially adjustable alongthe bearing member and free to move through a limited arc of revolution,one on either side of the plate, a cam cylinder axially movable alongthe bearing member with one of said brackets, ratchet means coupling thecylinder with the bracket for rotative movement in one direction, camplates spaced around the cam cylinder, side guides carried by the twobrackets, mechanism coupling the side guides for simultaneous motionaxiallyv of the bearing member, and a cam roll secured to one of theside guides and co-acting with the plates on the cam cylinder, wherebythe spacing of the side guides will be changed upon oscillation of thebrackets around theguiding member, and means for changing the spacing ofthe side guides a predeterminedL amount whenV the cam roll is positionedintermediate adjacent plates on the cam cylinder.

9. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising opposed sideguides movable into and out of an active position adj acent a tirebuilding form, a device operable by the movement of the guides intoactive position for shifting the guides into a predetermined spacing,and mechanism actuated bythe successive movements of the guides intoinactive position for resetting said device to give a predeterminedsequence of spacmgs.

' 10. A fabric guide for tire building apparatus comprising opposed sideguides mov- Y able into and out of an active position adjacent a tirebuilding form, and a device automatically operable during successivemovementsof said guides into active position for spacing said guidesapart a predetermined sequence of distances.

WILLIAM F. IRRGANG.

